Method of decorating watch dials, etc.



:Sept- 1, 1931- J. c. MCFARLAND 1,821,561

METHOD OF DECORATING WATCHKDIALS, ETC

Filed June 22, 1928 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i JAMES QMCFARLAND, or FORT THOMAS, xENTUcxY, AssIeNoR To THE wivADswonTn: WATCH CASE co., or DAYTON, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION or KENTUCKY METHOD OF DECORATING WATCH DIALS, ETC.

Applieatien led June 22,

The present invention relates particularly to a method of providing a Watch dial, or the like, with a decorative surface; and the primary object is to provide an improved and simple method of this character which will f enable improved results to be obtained with great facility. v

The improved method is applicable, for example, to the production of a Watch dial from a brass dial blank, the face surface of the dial being provided with metal platings of constrastm colors. For illustration," the body surface of the dial may be in silver, and the numerals and such other design as may be desired may appear in polished gold.4

A preferred method of procedure is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Whichl Fig. 1 illustrates a dail .blankhaving a silver plating applied thereto; Fig. 2 illustrates a further step in which a gold plating is applied over the silver plating; Fig. 3 illustrates a further step-in which a chromium plating is applied over the gold plating; Fig. 4 illustrates 'a further step in which a suitable resist design (which may correspond with numerals and other design features on the dial) has been applied to the chromium `surfaceFig. 5 illustrates ayfurther step in which the exposed areas of chromium plating havel been removed; Fig. 6 illustrates a further step in which the resist design and portions of the gold have been removed, leaving the gold numerals, etc., protected by chromium plating; Fig. 7 illustrates a further step in which the chromium plating has been removed, leaving the silver surface and the gold numerals, etc.; and Fig. 8 illustrates a plan of the face of the dial.

One may start with av base metal blank, such as brass, or other base metal, .or base metal alloy. If it be desired to have the numerals and other portions of a decorative design in gold upon a silver background, this may be accomplished in accordance .with the following description, stated as a preferred method:

Silver plate the dial blank; polish (or otherwise finish) the silver plating; o'old plate the surface of the silver plating; cliro- 1928. Serial No. 287,537.

the numerals, etc. VThis may be done by l means of dilute hydrochloric acid, for example, leaving the gold numerals and any other desigp 1n gold which may have been protected y the chromium plating.V The gold numerals, etc., will possess a polished gold appearance, set off by a silver backv ground.

The operation of pumicing off the exposed gold and the resist over the numerals, etc.,

vvill not a'ect the chromium plating which protects the numerals; and, finally, as stated above, thechromium may be stripped from.

the numerals, etc.

It is unnecessary to polish the gold plating beforeapplying the chromium plating, as the gold will have a polished appearance in any event. If a polished eiect is not desired, any other desired finish may be employed.

It is obvious that one ma startwith a silver dial-blank, instead o producing a silver-plated blank. Any recious metal plating may be used in lieu o? silver. Silver has been selected in the example given as a color which contrasts with go d. However, plainum, white gold, or green gold, may be use l v Instead of umicing. or olishing the silver-plating, or example, tlie silver surface may be given a sand-blast finish, a satin finish, or the like.

The resist employed for protecting the chromium at the areas corresponding with the numerals, etc., may be applied 1n any suitable manner. One may, if desired, ap ply a light-sensitive coating to the chromium plating; photographically produce an image 'of the numerals, name, etc., in the coating;

subject the coating to a developing operation toremove the unreacted portions, thus leaving a resist over the numerals, name, etc.; and may then proceed to remove the chromium plating at the exposed areas. .k Variations in the of the invention will be made.

Referring to the figures in the drawings, A designates a blank, such as a dial blank; -B designates a silver surface; C designates l 'a gold surface over thesilver surface; D designates a chromium surface over the gold surface; E designates' a suitable resist design, say a design which protects the numerals, name, and small second handv dial; and F designates the finished dial.

. It may be added that inthe Voperation of pumicing off the gold and resist mentioned. above,.the chromium plating over the nu-A merals, name, etc., is not abraded or affected W byy the pumicing operation. Chromium plating is hard, resistant, and free from danger of tarnishing; hence, if desired, the chromium plating design may itself be allowcd, to remain as one of the contrasting plating designs of the finished article. For illustration, at one stage in the process described above, a gold background is present, and the numerals, name, etc., appear as a chromium plating design. These are contrasting colors. Other Ways of producing contrasting color designs may be used by properly selecting the metals.

The foregoing detailed description has beengiven for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard .as new, and desire to secure bv Letters Patent, is:

l. The method of producing a decorative design on'a metal surface, which comprises: applying to a precious metal surface having a given color a precious metal plating of an' .45 other color; applying a chromium plating;

applying a suitable resist design to the chromium plating; removing the exposed chromium plating; and removing the first-mentioned plating at the exposed area-s and-the resist which covers the protected areas of the chromium plating.

2. The method of producing ai decorative design on a metal surface, which comprises: applying to a precious metal surface having a given color a precious metal plating of another color; applying a chromium plating; applying a suitable resist design to the chromium plating; removing the exposed chromium plating; removing the first-mentioned plating at the exposed areas and the resist process Within the scopev vthe chromium 4design on a metal surface which comprises:

,chromium plating to thesecond-mentioned plating; applying-'a suitable resist design to` plating; dissolving the chromium plating t roughout the exposed area's; and removing the second-mentioned plating and the resist design.

4. The method of producing decorative design on a metal surface which comprises: applying a precious metal plating of given 'color to a hase metal blank; applying another precious metal plating of contrasting color to the first-mentioned plating; applying a chromium plating to the secondmentioned plating; applying a suitable resist design to the chromium lating; dissolving the chromium plating t roughout the exposed areas; removing the second-mentioned plating and the resist design; and finally removing the remaining chromium plating.

5. The method of producing a decorative design on a, metal surface, which comprises: applying a precious metal platin to a base metal blank and giving to said plating a desired finish; applying a precious metal plating of contrasting color to said first-mentionedy plating; applying a chromium plating to said second-mentioned plating; applying a suitableresist design. to said chromium plating; removing the chromium plating at the exposed areas; removing the exposed second-mentioned plating and said resist design; and removing the remaining chromium plating.

6. The method of producing a decorative design on a metal surface, which comprises: applnying to a surface of a givencolor a plating of another color; applying a chromium plating design upon saidy first-mentioned plating; removing the exposed portions of said first-mentioned plating while said chromium plating design serves as a resist; and removing said chromium plating design.

JAMES C. MCFARLAND.

which covers the protected areas of the chro.

mium plating; and finally `removing the chromium plating at the areas formerly protected by the resist design.

@5 3. The method of producing a decorative 

